There have been some unforgettable matches during the 30 years of Premier League history with underdogs and relegation-threatened sides pulling off remarkable victories over high-flying opponents. Here are five of the biggest shock wins ever seen in England’s top division.
Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn Rovers
Manchester United missed out on the Premier League title to fierce rivals Manchester City on the final day of the 2011/12 season and one agonising defeat they were left to rue was at home to Blackburn Rovers. Steve Kean’s side were rock bottom when they travelled to Old Trafford in December and had some of the longest odds to win ever seen in the Premier League at 28/1. However, Blackburn went on to cause a huge upset as two goals from Yakubu and a late Grant Hanley header secured a memorable 3-2 victory.
Bradford City 1-0 Liverpool
Bradford City played host to a Liverpool side featuring Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher on the final day of the 1999/2000 season knowing that only three points would be enough to save them from relegation. The odds were stacked again them, especially as Liverpool needed a win to secure Champions League qualification, but a goal from defender David Wetherall in the 12th minute and a heroic defensive display thereafter ensured that Paul Jewell’s men stayed in the top flight.
Watford 3-0 Liverpool
Some of the biggest football betting stories occur when you least expect. Liverpool travelled to Watford in early 2020 on an incredible 18-match winning run and a 22-point lead at the top of the table. The Hornets were struggling in the relegation zone but promptly flipped the form book on its head as they cruised to an incredible 3-0 win. The exciting Ismaïla Sarr bagged a brace and veteran Troy Deeney scored late on. Unfortunately, it was not enough to save Watford as they went down on the final day of the season.
Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal
Not all shock wins are complete upsets, sometimes it’s the extent of a victory that comes as a major surprise. That happened in August 2011 when Manchester United trounced Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal 8-2 at Old Trafford. The Gunners feared the worst as they started with a makeshift defence due to injuries, but they were not expecting United to run riot as they did. Wayne Rooney grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick while Ashley Young also scored two terrific goals to consign Arsenal to their worst defeat since 1896.
Norwich City 3-2 Manchester City
Newly promoted Norwich City were not expecting much when defending champions Manchester City came to Carrow Road in September 2019, but they pulled off a shock victory after racing into an early 2-0 goal lead. Kenny McLean and Todd Cantwell scored during the first 30 minutes and while Sergio Agüero reduced the deficit, the in-form Teemu Pukki made it 3-1 after the break. A second City goal from Rodri made it a nail-biting finish for the Canaries but they got over the line to close out a memorable win.
